Some reasons to remain bullish on Tiger

Updated 10:15 pm, Monday, August 12, 2013

Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer to never win a major since 2008. Here are four reasons he will win at least five more majors, passing Jack Nicklaus:

1. Woods is 37, but it's golf.

He conditions himself like an Olympic decathlete, not like a golfer. Woods has a lifetime commitment to extreme fitness. Only a few other golfers had that level of relentless dedication - Gary Player and Vijay Singh come to mind.

Raise your hand if you use the same belt hole at age 37 that you used at age 18. I bet Woods - and his Nike tailor - know if he gains one pound. There is no reason Woods, and his tailor, can't compete at a very high level for eight more years.

Too old at 37? Jim Furyk, a swing or two away from winning two recent majors, is 43.

2. Woods is the best golfer golfing. Eight wins since the start of 2012. Rory McIlroy has four wins, none this year. Phil Mickelson has three.

Every golfer has dips. Tiger used to be exempt from that cycle. Now he dips, but not like the other guys. Woods finished 14 strokes off the lead at the PGA Championship. Mickelson, fresh off winning the British Open, was 22 strokes out.

3. Woods' kids are starting to watch. He has talked about how his daughter (age 6) and son (4) now badger him about winning tournaments. Those two kids have never been in the gallery watching daddy win a major.

Sure, Tiger could whip out the home movies and show the kids his majors triumphs. But that's like saying, "Kids, I can't take you to Disneyland, but I'm going to show you some video of the Magic Kingdom."

4. Mission, baby. Woods is on one. So much to prove. That he hasn't lost his edge, that he wasn't knocked off-stride forever by personal problems, that his swing changes were brilliant, that he won't succumb to traditional aging decline, and that he's the best golfer golfing.